Speakers | BrandSmart 2025

Industry leaders from leading brands — Feeding America, Google, Claire's, Threadline, Sports and others — share their insights and favorite tools to help brand marketers master the unprecedented opportunities and challenges of today’s fast-changing environment and to future-proof their brands.

Mainstage Speakers

Josh Blacksmith

Josh Blacksmith

Kimberly-Clark & President AMA Chicago
Julie Giese

Julie Giese

NASCAR Chicago Street Race
Dan Sohner

Dan Sohner

Associate Director, Client Management, Starcom
Chris Fallen

Chris Fallen

Account Director, VIANT
Jan  Kostner

Jan Kostner

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Bennie Johnson

Bennie Johnson

American Marketing Association
Kary McIlwain

Kary McIlwain

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital

Breakout Session Speakers

Christine Buck

Christine Buck

HIMMS
Michael Farmer

Michael Farmer

Farmer & Company LLC
Julia Fedor

Julia Fedor

United Airlines
Frank Haas

Frank Haas

Gebrüder Weiss
Erin Higgins

Erin Higgins

PepsiCo Foods North America
Henry Innis

Henry Innis

Mutinex
Gary Kash

Gary Kash

Gary Kash Marketing Insights
Jan Kostner

Jan Kostner

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Christine Mau

Christine Mau

Medline
Omo Ogbomo-Williams

Omo Ogbomo-Williams

VML
Lova Randrianasolo, Ph.D.

Lova Randrianasolo, Ph.D.

SAVA Consulting Group
Jennifer Severns

Jennifer Severns

Severns Innovation Group, LLC
John Sintras

John Sintras

Mutinex
Tatia Torrey

Tatia Torrey

Spencer Stuart
Susan & Scot Westwater

Susan & Scot Westwater

Authors